Family Stories

Ten days before his 3rd birthday, Reid Huscroft was away at camp soaking up some summer fun and experiencing what seemed like allergy symptoms. Dark circles appeared under Reid’s eyes and bruises developed over his legs. Reid and his older brother Lane were just one year apart, so it was obvious that something just didn’t…

After Heather and Dallas Mielke married they were eager to grow their family in Bonnyville, AB. Heather had three children from a previous relationship and dreamed of a large family filled with love. On New Year’s Eve, just as 2011 turned to 2012, Dallas and Heather were thrilled to find out that they were expecting.…

Five hundred kilometres is a long way to travel, but it is a small journey to make for family. That is what the Mabley family faced when they found out their newborn daughter needed medical care in Edmonton, a long ways away from their home in Grimshaw, AB. Joyce Mabley’s pregnancy seemed quite normal. After…

Gavin Gillies was born on May 10, 2016, with a heart defect. At 21 days old his medical journey began when doctors fitted him with a pacemaker. This marks sweet Gavin’s journey through heart failure, and his family’s journey of keeping their son close at Ronald McDonald House Charities® Northern Alberta. Candace, Gavin, & Matt…

Three years ago Uma and Jay Kudumadillam emigrated from India to Canada, settling in Calgary, Alberta, to begin a new life full of promise. But when their newborn son’s liver began to fail, all hope of a bright, happy future vanished before their eyes. Dathatreyan Kudumadillam was born with liver complications, and early in his…

For over 200 days Jack McVey has been in the hospital, away from his twin sister Elliott, and away from his parents Alana and Adam. A complicated pregnancy from the start, Alana was on bed rest for four weeks to help correct a placenta bleed with Elliott. At 21 weeks Alana started having symptoms that…

It takes a strong bond to keep a family whole during the illness of a child, and family means everything to the Reeds. Parents Julie and Allen raise their four children in La Crete, Alberta, a small town 700km away from Edmonton. They never imagined what life would be like with a sick child, let…

The Stewart Family Becoming parents for the first time is an incredibly exciting experience with dreams of milestones like first baths and coming home from the hospital… But that isn’t always the story for some families. Tennille and Graham Stewart were elated to start their family. For the Spruce Grove couple everything seemed to be…

The Walsh Family Four days after their son was born, Jessy and Kyle named him Aiden, which means little fire in Gaelic. Aiden was born at 23 weeks gestation because of a prior miscarriage, mom Jessy’s hormones were telling her body that she was ready to deliver. The doctors told Jessy and Kyle that little…